2021 fm Management of Atmospheric Storage Tank Fires API RECOMMENDED PRACTICE 2021 FOURTH EDITION, MAY 2001 REAFFIRMED, SEPTEMBER 2015 Management of Atmospheric Storage Tank Fires Safety & Fire Protec[.]
Management of Atmospheric Storage Tank Fires API RECOMMENDED PRACTICE 2021 FOURTH EDITION, MAY 2001 REAFFIRMED, SEPTEMBER 2015 Management of Atmospheric Storage Tank Fires Safety & Fire Protection API RECOMMENDED PRACTICE 2021 FOURTH EDITION, MAY 2001 REAFFIRMED, SEPTEMBER 2015 SPECIAL NOTES API publications necessarily address problems of a general nature With respect to particular circumstances, local, state, and federal laws and regulations should be reviewed API is not undertaking to meet the duties of employers, manufacturers, or suppliers to warn and properly train and equip their employees, and others exposed, concerning health and safety risks and precautions, nor undertaking their obligations under local, state, or federal laws Information concerning safety and health risks and proper precautions with respect to particular materials and conditions should be obtained from the employer, the manufacturer or supplier of that material, or the material safety data sheet Nothing contained in any API publication is to be construed as granting any right, by implication or otherwise, for the manufacture, sale, or use of any method, apparatus, or product covered by letters patent Neither should anything contained in the publication be construed as insuring anyone against liability for infringement of letters patent Generally, API standards are reviewed and revised, reaffirmed, or withdrawn at least every five years Sometimes a one-time extension of up to two years will be added to this review cycle This publication will no longer be in effect five years after its publication date as an operative API standard or, where an extension has been granted, upon republication Status of the publication can be ascertained from the Standardization Manager [telephone (202) 682-8000] A catalog of API publications and materials is published annually and updated quarterly by API, 1220 L Street, N.W., Washington, D.C 20005 This document was produced under API standardization procedures that ensure appropriate notification and participation in the developmental process and is designated as an API standard Questions concerning the interpretation of the content of this standard or comments and questions concerning the procedures under which this standard was developed should be directed in writing to the Standardization Manager, American Petroleum Institute, 1220 L Street, N.W., Washington, D.C 20005 Requests for permission to reproduce or translate all or any part of the material published herein should also be addressed to the general manager API standards are published to facilitate the broad availability of proven, sound engineering and operating practices These standards are not intended to obviate the need for applying sound engineering judgment regarding when and where these standards should be utilized The formulation and publication of API standards is not intended in any way to inhibit anyone from using any other practices Any manufacturer marking equipment or materials in conformance with the marking requirements of an API standard is solely responsible for complying with all the applicable requirements of that standard API does not represent, warrant, or guarantee that such products in fact conform to the applicable API standard All rights reserved No part of this work may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise, without prior written permission from the publisher Contact the Publisher, API Publishing Services, 1220 L Street, N.W., Washington, D.C 20005 Copyright © 2001 American Petroleum Institute FOREWORD Although there are more than one hundred thousand petroleum storage tanks in service in all phases of petroleum operations, only a very small percentage of tanks ever experience a fire Consequently, relatively few people have had direct experience with fighting tank fires This guide was prepared to help provide a basic understanding of tank fire suppression The information presented is based primarily upon experience in the petroleum industry over a number of years It is not intended to exclude or limit the use of other approaches of comparable merit API strongly supports the principles of fire prevention as the most effective means of ensuring personnel and property protection Many API publications such as Std 2610 Design, Construction, Operation, Maintenance and Inspection of Terminal and Tank Facilities provide guidance for reducing the probability of fire The information provided in this document emphasizes planning and preparation as additional steps to protect people and property in those infrequent situations where fires occur API publications may be used by anyone desiring to so Every effort has been made by the Institute to assure the accuracy and reliability of the data contained in them; however, the Institute makes no representation, warranty, or guarantee in connection with this publication and hereby expressly disclaims any liability or responsibility for loss or damage resulting from its use or for the violation of any federal, state, or municipal regulation with which this publication may conflict Suggested revisions are invited and should be submitted to the Standardization Manager at the American Petroleum Institute, 1220 L Street, N.W., Washington, D.C 20005 iii CONTENTS Page GENERAL 1.1 Purpose 1.2 Scope REFERENCED PUBLICATIONS DEFINITIONS UNITS OF MEASUREMENT 5 TANK FIRE PREVENTION PLANNING FOR TANK FIRE MANAGEMENT 6.1 General Planning Process 6.2 Incident Management System Planning 6.3 Facility Survey and Hazard Assessment 6.4 Types of Tank Fires and General Suppression Strategies 11 6.5 Review Existing Fire Suppression Capability 13 6.6 Review, Revise or Develop Fire Protection and Suppression Philosophy 13 6.7 Tank–Specific Planning 14 6.8 Fire Suppression Agents 19 PREPARATION FOR TANK FIRE SUPPRESSION 7.1 General Preparation 7.2 Preparation of Incident Management Resources 7.3 Tank–Specific Preparation 7.4 Logistics Preparation for Fire Suppression 7.5 Training 19 19 20 20 21 26 IMPLEMENTING THE FIRE SUPPRESSION PROCESS 8.1 General Process for Implementing Fire Suppression 8.2 Notifying and Activating an Incident Response Organization 8.3 Gathering and Assessing Incident Information 8.4 Developing Incident–Specific Strategy and Tactics 8.5 Resource Assembly and Utilization—Fighting the Fire 8.6 Ongoing Situation Assessment and Adjustments 8.7 Control or Extinguishment 8.8 Overhaul and Remediation 8.9 Incident Termination 8.10 Critique 26 26 26 28 29 29 37 37 37 38 38 INVESTIGATION, REPORTING AND FOLLOW–UP 9.1 Investigation 9.2 Reporting 9.3 Follow-up 38 38 38 38 v CONTENTS Page APPENDIX A DEFINITION OF TERMS USED IN THIS STANDARD WHICH ARE IN GENERAL USE IN THE PETROLEUM INDUSTRY 39 APPENDIX B UNITS OF MEASUREMENT 41 APPENDIX C INCIDENT COMMAND SYSTEM (ICS) 43 APPENDIX D INCIDENT DOCUMENTATION DATA SHEET 47 APPENDIX E TYPES OF STORAGE TANKS 49 APPENDIX F FIRE PROTECTION CONSIDERATIONS RELATEDTO FLOATING ROOF TYPE AND DESIGN 53 APPENDIX G SPECIAL HAZARDS ASSOCIATED WITH TANK FIRES 55 APPENDIX H FIRE SUPPRESSION AGENTS 59 APPENDIX I THE POTENTIAL DANGERS OF POURING FOAM ONTO PETROLEUM 65 APPENDIX J FOAM FRICTION LOSS AND BACK–PRESSURE 67 APPENDIX K DETERMINING FOAM CONENTRATE REQUIREMENTS FOR FULL SURFACE FIRES 69 APPENDIX L DETERMINING FOAM CONCENTRATE REQUIREMENTS FOR SEAL FIRES 73 APPENDIX M WATER FLOW THROUGH FIRE HOSES AND PIPES 75 APPENDIX N OBSERVATIONS, LESSONS LEARNED AND “TRICKS OF THE TRADE” 77 APPENDIX O PPE FOR PERSONNEL FIGHTING TANK FIRES 83 Figures 3a 3b 10 11 12 13 14 15 C–1 D–1 E–1 E–2 E–3 Overview of Management of Atmospheric Storage Tank Fires Planning for Storage Tank Fire Management Tank–Specific Pre–Incident Contingency Planning Sheet Tank–Specific Pre–Incident Contingency Planning Sheet Preparation for Tank Fire Suppression 20 Water–Foam Solution Flow Requirement for Full Surface Fire gallons/minute at Varied Application Rates (in g/min/ft2) 22 Gallons of Foam Concentrate Needed for Each Ten Minutes of Foam Application at 1%, 3% and 6% Concentrations 23 Permanently Attached Foam Chambers 24 Subsurface Foam Injection 24 Three Monitors with Large to Very Large Flow Capacity 25 High Capacity Monitor 25 Implementing the Fire Suppression Management Process 27 Foam for Seals Flowing into Foam Dam from Permanently Installed Foam Chamber 32 Elevating Platform Showing Access from Above Tank Rim 33 Special Portable Monitor Attached to Edge of Floating 33 Tank Roof to Fight Rim Seal Fires 33 Wind Girder with Handrail Provides Safe Fire Personnel Access 34 Example Incident Command Data Sheet for Petroleum Storage Tank Facilities 44 Example Incident Documentation Data Sheet 48 Fixed Cone Roof Tank 49 Low–Pressure Tanks without Weak Seam 49 Horizontal Tanks 50 Page E–4 Close-up View of Bolted Tank Seams E–5a Internal (Covered) Floating Roof Tank E–6a Open Top (External) Floating Roof Tank E–6b Open Top (External) Floating Roof Tank Diagram E–7 External Floating Roof Tank with Dome E–8 Spheres Adjacent to Tanks G–1 Boilover of a Cone–Roof Tank M–1 Effect of Size on Flow Capability with Same Pressure Loss N–1 Example of On–Site Tank Emergency Response Information Sign Tables Tank Content Characteristics and Potential Special Hazards Tank Types and Fire Potential Example of Minimum Resources for Seal Fire Suppression in 250 ft Diameter Hydrocarbon Tank Example of Minimum Resources for Full Surface Fire Suppression in 250 ft Hydrocarbon Tanks B–1 English to Metric (SI) Units of Measure Relevant to Tank Fire Suppression K–1 NFPA Full Surface Fire Minimum Application Rate Based on Fuel and Application Method K–2 NFPA Full Surface Fire Minimum Application Time in Minutes Based on Application Method K–3 Supplemental Hose Streams Recommended by NFPA 11 L–1 Foam Application and Time for Seal Fire Suppression Consistent with NFPA 11 Recommendations N–1 Reported Angle for Monitor to Achieve Maximum Height or Distance 50 50 50 51 52 52 56 75 80 10 11 17 18 41 70 70 70 73 77